coffee chats at bulge brackets for SA25

What are some best practices about coffee chats at bulge brackets? I feel like for smaller boutique firms that have different niches it’s a lot easier to have personalized conversations about your interest in IB but for bulge brackets, I don’t quite know how to prep for these coffee chats. I don’t want to ask questions that they’ll think are a waste of time like “What does your day to day look like” but I also have no idea what kind of deals they would work on, especially if they don’t put their vertical on LinkedIn. Besides being personable and trying to come across as competent, how do I have a good coffee chat with these analysts?

2 Comments
 

Ah, the art of the coffee chat in the concrete jungle of bulge bracket banks! Here's a bunch of bananas... I mean, best practices for you to consider:

  • Research, Research, Research: Before the chat, do your homework on the firm. Understand their major deals, news, and the bank's culture. This will help you ask informed questions and show genuine interest.

  • Personalize Your Approach: Try to find out which group the person you're meeting with works in. If that's not possible, ask them about it during the chat. Tailor your questions to their experiences and expertise.

  • Ask Insightful Questions: Instead of the run-of-the-mill "day-to-day" questions, ask about their most challenging deal, what they think sets their firm apart, or their views on industry trends.

  • Discuss Current Events: Show that you're up to date with the market by discussing recent transactions or news that may affect their bank. It demonstrates your passion for the industry.

  • Seek Advice: Ask for their advice on what they wish they knew when they were in your shoes or how to best prepare for a career at a bulge bracket bank.

  • Be Memorable: Share your experiences and interests to create a personal connection. People remember how you made them feel, not just what you said.

  • Follow-Up: After the chat, send a personalized thank you note mentioning something specific from your conversation. It shows you were engaged and appreciated their time.

Remember, it's not just about grilling them with questions; it's about building a rapport and showing that you'd be a great fit for their team. Swing from the vines of curiosity and let your genuine interest in the industry and their work shine through!

Sources: Your Best Coffee Chat Ever, What Do You Even Do During Coffee Chats????, How One Student Did Coffee Chats Right - Received Offer From A BB, Good questions to Ask in Coffee Chats for Investment Banking, Ideas for improving your coffee chat conversion rate

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Et voluptas necessitatibus veniam occaecati deserunt. Nemo quam et sed aut molestiae velit excepturi. Ipsum nam unde laboriosam accusamus eum. Voluptatem eligendi porro voluptatem rem aperiam consequatur. Odit odit voluptas cum ut.

Delectus adipisci illo molestiae et eos et iure impedit. Minima non sit non explicabo est modi repellat. Sunt atque soluta est ut vero qui. Vel sunt occaecati ut atque.

Molestiae nulla omnis nostrum quo qui doloribus vitae. Ut rem rem facere rerum aperiam iusto blanditiis. Ea nobis quo culpa saepe. Fugit temporibus quibusdam eligendi dignissimos. Est consequatur hic sunt reprehenderit recusandae unde eos voluptas.

Quidem voluptatem tempora non ea et. Nam exercitationem ipsum necessitatibus in possimus mollitia. Dolor ut voluptatum fugit magni ipsam. Voluptatum est quia maxime voluptatem ullam maxime voluptates.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”